If you’d like to wander through Barranco’s hidden paths, we’ll be waiting for you every day at 14:00 h on the avenida Panamericana Sur 270, Barranco. As a landmark, use the Estadio Unión station of the Metropolitano bus system.

A republican-style mansion with art nouveau stained glass and spacious gardens, built in 1906 by architect Santiago Basurco, is today home to a museum that showcases the remarkable archaeological and artistic collection of philanthropist Pedro de Osma.

Born in Lima, Osma (1868–1936) and his family used this Barranco residence as their summer retreat. With its distinctive features, the house is a fine example of the tastes and architectural styles that shaped the capital in the early 20th century.

Its halls display pre-Hispanic objects dating back to the 5th century, along with a variety of colonial artworks. Among the highlights are paintings from the Cusco School of Art, portraying saints and virgins in striking detail.

Architecture, art, and bohemian nights – that’s the spirit of Barranco, the Lima neighbourhood you simply can’t miss. It’s the perfect place to pause and admire its republican mansions, many of which have been transformed into museums or galleries.

That’s exactly what awaits you on the fourth block of Avenida Pedro de Osma, where a 19th-century mansion has housed the Museo Mario (MATE) since 2012. Inside, you’ll find some of the finest works of Peru’s most celebrated photographer.

Born in Lima in 1954, Testino’s photography is renowned for its sophistication, dynamism, and contemporary style. With great skill, he manages to capture in a single shot the very essence of the people he portrays.

His sessions with Princess Diana, Madonna, Gucci, Versace, and Kate Moss – to name just a few – highlight the artistic mastery of Testino, widely recognised as “the master of fashion photography.”

In 2023, a Peruvian restaurant claimed the top spot on The World’s 50 Best list. Its name?… Yes, you guessed it: Central – one of the stops on our free walking tour through Barranco walk: Off the beaten path.

Although the visit is only from the outside — reservations are booked months in advance — it’s the perfect chance for your guide to share the story and philosophy behind this award-winning restaurant, founded in 2009 by chef Virgilio Martínez.

But Central is far more than just a restaurant. It’s a journey into Peru’s biodiversity in search of new ingredients. Its culinary vision is built on tasting menus crafted with the finest flavours and ingredients from each of the country’s ecological levels.

Before cars and buses took over the streets, a “modern and speedy transport system would make its way into the still small seaside town of Barranco along what is now Avenida Reducto in Miraflores, and then follow the route of Avenida Grau…”

That “modern and speedy system,” as recalled on the Barranco Vintage fan page, was the electric tram — an urban transport service that ran in Lima from 1904 until 1965. Back in the 19th century, however, its carriages were pulled by horses.

And why bring up this piece of history? The answer is simple: on the free tour, you’ll come across a beautifully restored carriage of the once iconic electric tram. So get ready to travel — if only in your imagination — back to the Barranco of days gone by.

There’s no way to explore Barranco without taking a good look at the ocean that laps the shores of this Lima district. That’s why our next stop on the free tour is all about pausing to admire the waters of the Pacific.

For the best views of the Costa Verde – the stretch of beaches that makes up Lima’s coastal circuit – we’ll head to the Bresciani viewpoint, a balcony nearly 20 metres long located at the end of the street that bears its name.

Barranco, the sea, and you – the perfect combination to delight your eyes and recharge your energy before moving on to the next highlight: Bodega & Bar Piselli, where you’ll feel like the star of a Western film.

This isn’t a film set, nor the backdrop for a Western where cowboys and outlaws face off. There’s no scene being shot here of two rogues demanding one more drink from the barman before stepping outside for a dusty street duel.

But let your imagination run free at Bodega & Bar Piselli – a place rooted in the past which, with its décor, wooden bar and tables, and shelves crammed with bottles, feels just like a saloon from the Wild West.

Founded in 1915 by Angelo Piselli, the bar even welcomed John Wayne himself, husband of the Peruvian actress Pilar Pallete. Other distinguished visitors included Peruvian writers José María Eguren, Abraham Valdelomar, Juan Gonzalo Rose, and Martín de la Fuente.

On the façade of this lively and traditional cultural centre, you’ll discover the life of poet Juan Parra del Riego. Born in Huancayo in 1894, his family settled in Lima in 1902, where he attended secondary school in Barranco.

At just 18, Juan won a poetry competition organised by the Barranco municipality. That moment marked the beginning of his literary career – one that would make him a key figure in Uruguay (where he passed away in 1925) and a celebrated name in Paris.

After his death, his niece, Gloria Recavarren Parra, founded the Juan Parra del Riego Cultural Centre in the 1980s. Since then, it has become a cornerstone in promoting the arts within Lima’s bohemian district.

The free tour ends just a short walk from Barranco’s Municipal Park, after two hours exploring the district’s hidden paths.